Tag: Coffee

Humor, Let's Talk Coffee, Non-fiction, Uncategorized, Writing Challenge

Weekend Coffee Share 8/3/19

COFFEE. GOLD BORDER -- Luiz Jorge Artista - PX

If we were having coffee together today, I’d be serving you my Folgiers half & half blend. I love Folgiers.  I generally enjoy Maxwell House coffee as well. Many of my family members and friends use the Keurig coffee makers, and they’re okay, but the coffee just doesn’t taste as good as it does when I brew my own by the pot.

If we were visiting today, I’d probably tell you about a new series of Christian ministry meetings I’m holding at the local civic center, because they are on the top of my “to-do” list. The first one was last month and went very well. The people who attended said they were very blessed, and the second meeting is scheduled for August 15. So I’m busy, busy, busy trying to get out all the advertising and notifications throughout the local media.

I would probably also tell you that I’m feeling pretty guilty because my house really needs a good cleaning, but telling you about my guilt is probably as far as I would go. I probably won’t do much actual cleaning this weekend. With the meeting to plan, a prayer meeting Sunday evening, and my newest journal project hanging over my  head, I just can’t seem to focus on the vacuum, the dust rag, or the dishpan.

I’m sure, if I gave you plenty of refills on coffee and some cookies to go with them, you’d be sure to sympathize with me and agree that the cleaning should come farther down on the list than those other jobs. Oh, and that reminds me: I was going to pick up a new package of chocolate cookies when I was at Wal Mart a couple hours ago, and I forgot!

Not to worry, though. I have enough cookies left from some packages I bought last week — and some M&M candies as well. I’ll be fine.

Well, enjoy your coffee this weekend and be good to yourselves. I’ll try to get around and visit several of you and try out your brew before the weekend’s over as well.

To join in the fun of the Weekend Coffee Share, hop over to this link and get the simple rules to participate.

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About Writing, Let's Talk Coffee, Non-fiction, Uncategorized, Writing

Weekly Smile 7/29/19

I love taking part in Trent’s Weekly Smile, but for the past couple weeks I’ve been bogged down finishing up this term’s writing class and preparing for a ministry meeting at a local Civic Center. But this week, I’m starting to wind down from those two event — both of which made me smile — so I have a little extra time.

COFFEE JOURNAL COVER FRONT ONLYHowever, my post is not about those two things. It’s about another smile maker. My brand new DAILY GRIND COFFEE LOVERS JOURNAL. It’s just out and, I’m grinning from ear to ear about it — partly because it’s now available for purchase — and partly because I just can’t keep from smiling when I look at all those delicious coffee photos and think about how those captions popped into my mind for each one — and partly because I’m enjoying doing my own journaling in my personal copy of the book.

Now, I know this sounds like an advertisement, but truly it is the thing that caused my biggest smile this week — and last week.  I’m having a great time running around delivering copies of the journal to other coffee lovers who want one for themselves or to give as a gift. And to be perfectly honest, I’ll probably be smiling pretty big over this event for the next week or two as well.

Not only that, but I’m working on the next journal, which has a writing theme and should be out next month. That project is putting a smile on my face as well. Of course, it’s also causing me some hours of serious thought and a tiny bit of aggravation, but after all — as we all know — that’s part of the program when you’re creating a book.

Hope you all have a lot to smile about this coming week as well.

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Coffee Thursday, Feature, Let's Talk Coffee, Non-fiction, Paperback Books, Uncategorized, Writing

COFFEE LOVERS JOURNAL

My newest project: DAILY GRIND COFFEE LOVERS JOURNAL

COFFEE JOURNAL COVER FRONT ONLY
It’s finally online and for sale — from Amazon. (Copies will also be available from me personally if you’re in the Southern Illinois area). I love this journal. I enjoyed creating it, and I’ll enjoy using it personally. I’m including a few pictures of the outside and inside — since the sample Amazon gives is too short to see what the journaling section actually looks like.

COFFEE JOURNAL COVER BACK ONLYJOURNAL SAMPLE 1JOURNAL SAMPLE 2

There are 31 delicious coffee pictures — each with its own appropriate caption and 3 lightly lined journaling pages. There are 93 lined journaling pages total. I hope coffee lovers all over the world will get one and enjoy it or give it as a gift to someone they love — who loves coffee.

The journal is $19.00 on Amazon. I’m selling them personally at a discount, but, of course, you’d have to live close enough for me to deliver one to you.

Anyway, check it out more thoroughly or purchase one HERE.

 

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Feature, Humor, Let's Talk Coffee, Uncategorized

Let’s Talk Coffee (or Tea) – Day 9

TEA BAG VARIETY -- Congerdesign -- PX
Congerdesign @ pixabay.com

I mentioned on Day 7 that I might include a post or two about hot tea as well as coffee, so let’s talk tea today. Some people consider tea a British drink. Well, it may have been once upon a time, but for my lifetime, it’s been as American as coffee. I often have both hot tea and coffee in the same day.  My favorite, by far, is English Breakfast Tea, but I enjoy many other kinds — including herbal teas. A box like the one pictured — with a huge variety to choose from — is a great prize. And I definitely prefer bags to loose tea. No matter how carefully I strain the loose tea, I still have aggravating leaves in my cup.  So you can just call me a “bag lady.”

cropped-red-tea-pot-and-cup-mr-wallpaper.jpg
mrwallpaper.com

 

Fill in text.

 

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Feature, Inspiration, Let's Talk Coffee, Uncategorized

Let’s Talk Coffee – Day 8

COFFEE IN PLAID CUP - FREE - DREAM-WALLPAPER

Ooooh, more stresssssssss!  But that’s okay, because I know how to get to my “Happy Place.”  Just pick up one of my delightful books by Miss Read, add a fresh-brewed cup of coffee, and I’m there!   🙂

 

 

photo courtesy of dream-wallpaper.com

 

 

 

 

Let's Talk Coffee, Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Let’s Talk Coffee – Day 7

 

COFFEE. GOLD BORDER -- Luiz Jorge Artista - PX

This whole past week of posting mostly nonsense about coffee has been so relaxing I just may do it for another week. I might even throw in a cup of tea for my British friends. I do enjoy a cup of hot tea frequently too.

Whatever your drink of preference, I hope you enjoy your day.

 

 

photo courtesy of Luiz Jorge Artista @ pixabay.com

 

 

 

 

Humor, Let's Talk Coffee, Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Let’s Talk Coffee – Day 6

COFFEE CARRY-OUT CUPS -- Verbera -- PX

JOE ON THE GO

Carry-out coffee is one of the greatest inventions of the human race. Okay, maybe that’s a little over-the-top where praise is concerned, but for people in the 21st century who have to be on the move for 12 to 15 hours of every 24, it’s a genuine blessing.

Note of interest: I’ve often wondered by coffee is sometimes referred to by the nickname “Joe.” There are several theories out there, but the one that seems to me to be the best substantiated is the one concerning former Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels. Here’s the link to that story:  “Why Coffee Is Called ‘Joe.'”

 

graphic courtesy of Verbera @ pixabay.com

 

 

 

 

Feature, Humor, Let's Talk Coffee, Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Let’s Talk Coffee – Day 2

POURING COFFEE - nathan-dumlao-607604-unsplash -- Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

 

CHECKLIST FOR THE PERFECT HUSBAND

1.  Must love coffee

2.  Must be able to brew a great pot of coffee

3.  Who cares? If he’s nailed the first two, he’s bound to get everything else right.

COFFEE - YELLOW SMILEY -- Hans PX

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photo courtesy of Nathan Dumlao at Unsplash

 

 

 

Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Weekend Coffee Share 1-12-19

coffee - purple cup -- a-mblamma -- pxIf we were having coffee together today, the first thing I’d say is, “I cannot believe we are already almost half-way through the first month of 2019!”  Then I’d tell you that our ground is covered with snow. We didn’t get as much a the forecasters told us we might, so I’m relieved about that fact.

I’d probably tell you about how I spent a good deal of time this week getting more Bible teaching videos made and posted on YouTube. Most of my visitors are familiar with my ministry YouTube channel, but just in case some of you are not and would like to check it out, I’ll give you the link here: Radical About Jesus Ministries YouTube.

We’ve already had a lot of visitors and quite a number of views for the two videos I posted this week. We’ve had a couple comments. I have to laugh when I tell you that one of the comments was pretty irate. That gentlemen was unhappy with something I said, but, of course, I can’t help that. I taught the truth, and what he does with it is between him and the Lord. I did leave him a comment that will, hopefully, help him understand a couple things better, but, for the most part in those situations, I just pray and leave it to the Lord to handle. When we post anything publicly, we are inviting people to respond publicly, and the vast majority of the time, that’s a very good thing. It’s what keeps the world connected.

But I can’t help but chuckle about it because I just watched a video a couple weeks ago by one of the artists in England that I follow regularly, and he was answering some very unkind comments that had been made on one of his videos. One point he made was that he couldn’t understand why someone felt compelled to give another person’s video a “thumbs down” sign or leave a negative comment. He said when he watched videos, if he didn’t like one he saw, he just stopped watching and went on to something else. There are tens of thousands of videos on YouTube, so it’s easy to just switch over to a different one.

He has a good point, and I’ve thought that very thing myself. If I really like someone’s video, I try to let them know, but if I don’t, I generally just shut off that video and move on. It’s less stress and aggravation for me. And there’s so much negativity in our world already that I don’t see any point in adding to it if I don’t have to. But everyone’s different, and I do invite people to share their thoughts and feelings if they want to do so. Most people have been very appreciative of the videos on that channel. And whether or not people are appreciative, I know the Lord is. I teach God’s Word because it’s my calling, and that’s all that really matters.

I’ve had people ask me from time to time if I’m ever ‘really, truly happy’. My reply has always been the same for years. I am truly happy at two times in my life: when I’m teaching God’s Word or when I’m writing. Now, however, since I’ve jumped into the painting world to help myself de-stress, I can say that — at least most of the time — I’m also happy when I’m painting.

And anyone who really knows me will tell you that, without a doubt, I believe a good cup of coffee is a recipe for happiness all by itself.

Well, I’ve begun to ramble, and your coffee is probably getting cold. I need to offer you a warm-up and let you get into the conversation for a while. I hope you will find that you are having a ‘really, truly happy’ day today.

 

Thanks to Eclectic Ali for hosting our weekend coffee share.

photo courtesy of a-mblamma @ pixabay.com

 

 

humor, Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Coffee Makes the World Go Round … Well, At Least It Makes This Blog Go Round

cropped-coffee-being-poured-w-spoon-pdpics-px.jpg

It just came to my attention today that I have done 43 separate posts on the subject of coffee — not counting a story or two set in a coffee shop , posts about my favorite foods, or my “weekend coffee share” posts. Wow.  I guess I appreciate coffee. But then, that makes sense. Coffee is soothing, satisfying, comforting, energizing, and beneficial to health (according to some medical research I’ve read about.)

So, have a cup on me today — and make it a great day!

P. S.  If you’re interested in reading the coffee posts, you’ll find them by clicking on the two ‘coffee’ categories in the navigation bar right below the header photo.

 

 

 

 

Inspiration, Living By Faith, Uncategorized, Writing

Weekend Coffee Share – 3/18/18

Exif JPEG

Hi. Come right on in and make yourself at home. I’ve got coffee in the pot — and a cup of “senior coffee” from McDonald’s as well. It’s one of those days.

If we really were having coffee together, I’d probably show you my newest coffee mug — which was a Valentine’s Day present from one of my former high school students. I’ve included a picture of it, so you can enjoy it as well. I taught high school and junior high, both public and private, for many years. I retired from that arena, but now I teach creative writing classes at a junior college. I’ve been very blessed to have many of my former students stay in touch with me for decades now. It’s much easier these days with so much social media and e-mail. I appreciate the love and gratitude my students still show me. They are special people.

I’d probably also tell you that this week I finally took one more step into the digital age. I’ve had my own books available in digital format for quite a while now, but I seldom read anything in that format. However, this week I downloaded two whole Bible translations onto my Nook. As a minister, I do enormous amounts of Bible study and Bible teaching, and often I use at least two or three translations in any given lesson. That fact makes for a pretty heavy load to carry around in my briefcase — or briefcases as the case may be — so this week I decided that two of those translations could go digital.

It’s a great relief to grab up that little Nook reader instead of two heavy books. In this morning’s service, I had to carry only one regular-sized King James Version and my digital reader with the Lamsa Translation and the Amplified. I think I’m going to appreciate the new digital age even more now.

Also, if we were having coffee, I’d probably tell you that this coming week is going to be a big event in my life. Perhaps to some, it might sound like nothing much, but for me, it’s major. I’ve shared a couple times on here about losing my very best friend last August. Because he was also my main editor for my books, that loss was made even more tragic, and I was having a very difficult time getting back to working on new books — three of which were in progress and had been contributed to by him. Every time I tried to get back to work on those books, the sorrow was just too heavy and the creativity for those projects too deeply buried.

But I’ve experienced more healing recently, thanks to the Lord’s grace, and this week is the week to pick up where I left off in August. So I’ll be pulling at least one of the works in progress off the shelf and stirring the ashes, so to speak. Hopefully, the creative flame will take over from there. I’m actually looking forward to it, and that’s a major breakthrough for me.

That’s about all I have to share today. My McDonald’s coffee is pretty well gone, and I’m headed back to my own pot for a refill. Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend — and your coffee. Hopefully, we’ll be able to share again next weekend.  🙂

 

Thanks to Eclecticali for hosting our weekend coffee shares.

 

 

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